How to choose the right cedar?

Choosing a cedar based on its foliage

Cedars have evergreen leaves, consisting of rosettes of needles in varying colours.

Green Foliage

These are the most common. The green colour can range from the darkest shade to the lightest.

In the iconic Lebanese cedar (Cedrus libani), the foliage displays a very dark green, making it stand out in the landscape.

Meanwhile, the Atlas cedar (Cedrus libani atlantica ‘Sargentii’) is a variety with fairly light green needles early in the season, which darken over time.

The same applies to the Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara), whose foliage is soft green, almost almond-like.

The ‘Pendula’ variety produces, on the other hand, fine, flexible needles that are light green when they first emerge. Later, they develop darker shades as they mature.

Blue Foliage

Blue-foliaged cedars are among the most prized. This is the case with the famous blue Atlas cedar, particularly the ‘Glauca’ variety. The needles display a striking bright blue in spring, before taking on silvery-grey hues in summer. A particularly aesthetic conifer!

The same goes for the ‘Horstmanns Silberspitz’ variety. It has the unique feature of producing cream-white shoots tinged with silver, which turn golden yellow in autumn. This creates a stunning contrast with the blue-green needles when they are mature and older.

We should also mention the Himalayan cedar ‘Feeling Blue’, with its beautiful blue-green foliage. Meanwhile, ‘Karl Fuchs’ produces needles with a grey-blue hue.

Golden Foliage

Golden foliage is the brightest of all, capable of bringing a lot of light to the garden. It can be found, for example, in the Cedrus deodara ‘Aurea’ or golden Himalayan cedar. The young shoots of its spring foliage display lovely golden hues, then turn soft green over time.

The same applies to the Cedrus deodara ‘Golden Horizon’ or dwarf Himalayan cedar, which boasts foliage blending green and golden yellow, very bright indeed.

Lebanese cedar and Himalayan cedar ‘Karl Fuchs’

Choosing a cedar tree based on its shape

Some cedars have a tabular shape, with branches that are almost horizontal. They form distinct layers. This is the case with the Cedar of Lebanon.

The Atlas cedar has a more pyramidal shape, but will also become tabular over the years. The same applies to Himalayan cedars. However, the ‘Karl Fuchs’ variety has graceful branches with slightly weeping tips.

Very different, the ‘Sargentii’ cultivar has a broad, spreading shape, with a low and wide habit that forms a dense cushion of foliage.

We should also mention the weeping Atlas cedar which, as its name suggests, has a silhouette resembling a true cascading waterfall. Its drooping branches are indeed almost vertical. Over time, it will become nearly as wide as it is tall.

Choosing a cedar based on its size and use

Cedars are impressive conifers: some can indeed exceed 50 metres in height! But there are also smaller species that can find their place in more modest gardens.

The Smaller Varieties

With relatively slow growth, they will reach around 5 metres in height over time. Among these varieties, we can mention the Atlas Cedar ‘Pendula’, prized for its beautiful weeping habit. After several years, it will modestly reach 4 metres in height with a spread of 6 metres.

For its part, the Himalayan Cedar ‘Feeling Blue’ is considered a dwarf variety, as it will not exceed 1 metre in height with a spread of 3 metres. With its spreading silhouette, this cedar makes a perfect ground cover for rockeries, to adorn a slope or edge a terrace.

Equally modest, the Cedrus deodara ‘Golden Horizon’ will brighten medium-sized spaces with its luminous golden foliage. At maturity, it will measure 2 metres in height with a spread of 3 metres.

Another slow-growing and compact cultivar is the Atlas Cedar ‘Sargentii’, which spreads to 3 metres in width while reaching just 1 metre in height. Perfect for adorning the top of a low wall. It can even be grown in a large container to decorate a sunny terrace or balcony.

Weeping Atlas Cedar

The Larger Varieties

If you’re looking for a centrepiece, a cedar to grow as a standalone specimen that will catch the eye, opt for the larger varieties.

For example, the Himalayan Cedar is a true giant, reaching 20 metres in height at maturity with a spread of 8 metres. In the wild, it can even exceed 70 metres in height. Unlike most conifers, it has the advantage of relatively fast growth, provided the soil is deep and remains moist (never fully drying out). Slightly more modest, the ‘Karl Fuchs’ variety will reach 10 metres in height with a spread of 5 metres.

We should also mention the dimensions of the Atlas Cedar, which reaches 20 metres in height with a spread of 10 metres.

Even more impressive, the Cedar of Lebanon can reach 50 metres in height with a spread of 20 metres. It is obviously reserved for the largest parks and gardens.

Himalayan Cedar and Blue Atlas Cedar

Choosing a cedar tree based on growing conditions

Most cedars thrive in sunny, open locations. However, some can tolerate slightly shadier conditions, in partial shade. This is particularly true for the dwarf Himalayan cedar ‘Golden Horizon’. Its foliage will simply develop darker hues compared to when planted in full sun. ‘Aurea’ can also withstand light shade.